the other candidate, of course, would be senator john kerry. very likely candidate since he's involved very much in international affairs and yet susan rice seems to be -- that names seems to be rising to the top. >> as you mentioned, secretary's flexibility will allow the president to nominate nsomeone who may not get confirmed and go to plan b. the president just lost a safety director. he's going to lose secretary clinton. his afghan war general involved in a scandal. is this shaping the president's foreign policy, without him directing it? are there real effects to all of this, do you think, worldwide? >> at this point, no, i don't think that. and one of the reasons is that the foreign policy really, a lot of it comes directly from the white house. there is a lot of control by this administration over what the direction is. after all, the president is one who is in charge and secretary clinton certainly has been very much a part of creating some of that, and carrying it out. but i think you have to say that at this point to say that when sh